Ms. Afrika Abney, Professional Visual Artist and Art Consultant- Branding Blog

  I have not prepared any in person art lessons to children and youth in a long while. I took this picture to provide you with an example of my art lessons that I conducted in the past. Furthermore, it might be useful for hiring agencies to provide adults with better sitting arrangements. Hard chairs for adults to sit in to conduct art lessons is both uncomfortable and unethical.   "Art lesson would be one that produced diverse outcomes, not identical ones, so always offer children choices. Encourage them to make decisions about the scale on which they work, the materials they use, even whether they want to work alone or as part of a group." I have successfully implemented over a dozen of art lesson plans to students with a diverse background and demographics in numerous settings for over 18 years. I began my art lessons with a brief introduction on the art lesson, demonstration of the art lesson and rules for ethics during the art lesson.  For example, the below art

  Talking to kids about their art helps to expand their public speaking skills, articulate their emotions, and develop an appreciation for the arts. I have had the opportunity to ask kids about their artwork in various settings and in my previous visual art workshops. Previous Visual Art Workshops "Art stimulates the imagination Art opens the heart and mind to possibilities and fuels the imagination. Art is a process of learning to create ourselves and experience the world in new ways. It supports the bigger view of life: beauty, symbols, spirituality, storytelling, and allows us to be present in the moment. Art keeps the magic alive. Art makes you more observant Leonardo da Vinci said, “Painting embraces all the ten functions of the eye; that is to say, darkness, light, body and color, shape and location, distance and closeness, motion and rest.” Creating art helps you learn to “see” by concentrating on detail and paying more attention to your environment. Art enhances

                                Whirpool of Violence. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney

Someone asked me who is my favorite artist? I do not play favorites. I have been influenced by many professional visual artists because some of them have taught me, while others, I have been introduced to.     For example, Baba Michael Anthony Brown, one of my former teachers from NationHouse. " A native of Washington, DC Michael is a graduate of what is now the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and Maryland Institute College of Art. His works have been featured in major museums and galleries nationally and internationally, including Manchester, England; Port au Prince Haiti; and Bahia, Brazil."    

  "All of us have ways in which we mask and cover our pain." - Iyanla Vanzant  Behind the mask, I have worn since 2020 as a result of the pandemic which began on March 9, 2020, has been an experience that I thought I will not experienced. I have created many masks throughout my life. Behind the mask lies me, a black woman full of multiple experiences. I do not need to hide my pain behind a mask. Behind the mask. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney  

                       Beautiful Black People. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney

                                  Triumph of America. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney

  “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”- Maya Angelou “As women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we’ll all be better off for it.”- Ruth Bader Ginsburg As a woman, I have the right to chose not to wear make up, certain clothing and jewerly. It is my human right to make those decisions. Just as people discriminate against genders. I do not believe discriminating against genders is beneficial. It is time for gender equality.   Gender equality. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney  

 “Your willingness to look at your darkness is what empowers you to change.” —Iyanla Vanzant                                 Darkness empowers. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney

  “ Not everything you do is going to be a masterpiece, but you get art there and you try and sometimes it really happens. The other times you’re just stretching your soul. ” - Maya Angelou “ I suggest that the great art belongs to all people, all the time--that indeed it is made for the people, by the people, to the people. ” Maya Angelou   When I create my abstract paintings whether on canvas or digital, I insert my entire spirit into my artwork using specific brushstrokes, technique and colors.                                    Spirit of the artist. Digital art created on canvas. Afrika Abney